NOTES FROM THE FIELD 33 



Mrs. P. D.Hitchcock has been one of the lar;4^e.st planters in this sec- 

 tion. While she has lost a large share of her trees through improper 

 selection and lack of intelligent care, we found Wealthy, twentj-five 

 inches, in perfect conilition; Briar Sweet, twenty-five inches, very 

 healthy and productive; Tetofsky, fifteen inches, not very product- 

 ive and inclined to scald. This orchard is evidently' suffering from 

 drouth, even large soft maples near by having died outright from 

 this cau.^e. Man}- of the trees are leaning heavily to the north and 

 are, hence, severely scalded. 



Mr. N. V. R. Hunter has one tree each of Early Strawberry, forty 

 inches, and Duchess, sixteen inches, that are in perfect health 

 and have been very profitable. He sold $30.00 worth of fruit from 

 these two trees and a small stub that is scarcely worth mentioning 

 the past season; certainly, a surprising profit to derive from trees that 

 occupy scarcely more than three square rods. But good fresh sum- 

 mer apples are scarce here, and he sold his Duchess ((r $1.'.(X» per 

 bushel, and Strawberry- crabs (a |1.50 per bushel. 



The most common injury in this section is the easil}- preventable 

 one of sunscald; but there is abundance of evidence that drouth is 

 severelj' felt and taxing the vitality of the trees to the last degree. 

 We would be glad to report more particularly in regard to small 

 fruits, but winter is not a favorable time to make examinations, and 

 nearly all of those whom we meet are unable to give an idea of their 

 varieties or much that would be of value to the society. We were 

 unable to learn of any who were doing anything with grapes or 

 {)]ums. 



ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1895. 



HELD AT Al'STIX, DEC, 20 AND lil. 1S9.1. 

 The third annual meeting of this society closed on Satur- 

 (l;i\ afternoon, having held five sessions, commencing Friday 

 morning. Friday forenoon was devoted to the discussion of the 

 apple (luestion, with addresses on the subject by Kdson Ga^-- 

 lurd of Nora Springs, Iowa and J. S. Harris of La Crescent. The 

 papers read and discussed during the various sessions were: "How 

 to Grow Celery," N. I.Johnson, Austin: "Small Fruits," John Christ- 

 gau, Sutton; "Irrigation for Small Fruit," Geo. H. Prescott, Albert 

 Lea; "Keeping Apples," Clarence Wedge, Albert Lea; "My Father's 

 New England Orchard," C. D. Belden, Austin; "Fruits for Winter 

 I'se," Mrs. Geo. H. Prescott. Albert Lea; "Mistakes in Orcharding," 

 Edson Gaylord, Nora Springs, Iowa; "Plums," J. S. Harris, La Cres- 

 cent; "Hardy Fruits for Southern Minnesota," C. F. Gardner, Osage, 

 Iowa; "Orcharding for Amateurs," J. B. Mitchell, Cresco, Iowa; 

 "Girding to Promote Fruitfulness," V.. H. S. Dartt, Owatonna; "Influ- 

 ence of the Nurseryman on Horticulture," C. G. Patten, Charles 

 City, Iowa; "Small Fruits and Vegetables — How to Raise Them." G. 

 C. Dinsmoor, Austin; "How to Raise Grapes," H. L. Crane, Excelsior. 

 All subjects were fully discussed and brought out much valuable 

 experience. 



